Goosemire Cottages Blog

Witnessing a flock of sheep running frantically from an out of control dog is a distressing sight. And for some pets, it culminates in them being shot, quite legally, by the farmer.

So two years ago, one Cumbrian dog trainer decided to tackle the problem, benefitting owner and farmer alike.

Janet Ardley, owner of Cumbria Dog Training, (http://www.cumbria-dog-training.com ) teamed up with a farming neighbour and devised a training plan that offered something completely different – the chance for owners to bring their dogs into a field of sheep and train them in a controlled manner, to ignore the Herdwicks and Swaledales of this world.

“Right from the start I believed I was offering a service vital to a dog’s welfare, if they’re going to be walked off lead in the countryside”, says Janet.

But little did she realise just how much demand there would be for her skills.

Local press and radio heard about it early on, before The Farmers Guardian and The Field magazine gave it national coverage. Suddenly Janet was inundated by requests from desperate owners seeking help !

People drive from across the UK, dog in boot, before they arrive at Janet’s 18th Century cottage in Bampton, a small village between Haweswater and Ullswater in the Lake District. And the results are not disappointing. If you require accommodation Goosemire Cottages have several dog friendly lake district cottages in the area and dogs stay for free.

Dog Training

“I use humane methods for my single, two hour lesson and these have proven to be highly successful. While I train the dog to ignore the sheep, I also train it to respect its’ owner. By the time the two leave, I have a dog who can be safely walked anywhere and an owner full of new found confidence.”

As numerous owners will testify, Janet’s simple but highly effective style has changed the lives of both them and their best friend for ever.